Influence of foliar application of micro-nutrients on growth, yield and quality in capsicum (Capsicum annum L.) under protected cultivation

Abstract

The present study was conducted to evaluate the impact of foliar applications of micronutrients—Zinc (Zn), Iron (Fe), and Boron (B)—on the growth, yield, and quality of capsicum (Capsicum annuum L.) under naturally ventilated polyhouse conditions during Rabi 2024-25 at Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur. The experiment consisted of 8 treatment combinations in a randomized block design with 3 replications. Among all treatments, the combined foliar spray of Zn + Fe + B (T7) significantly improved plant height (103.45cm),number of branching (9.45), internodal length, stem girth, day of 50% flowering, number of flowers, day to 1st fruit set, fruit set%, number of fruits /plant, fruit length, fruit diameter, fruit weight, fruit weight /plot, yield (101.64 q/1000 m²), pericarp thickness (8.79 mm),moisture content, highest dry matter content, TSS (7.53 °Brix), shelf life (9.75 days), and B:C ratio (2.32). The findings suggest that foliar applications of a micronutrient mixture are an effective strategy to enhance productivity and profitability in protected capsicum cultivation.